On-farm welfare assessment in dairy goats in the Brazilian Northeast

Leite, L.O.; Stamm, F.O.; Souza, R.A.; Camarinha Filho, J.A.; Garcia, R.C.M.

doi:10.1590/1678-4162-11691

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Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia

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Animal Science and Technology and Inspection of Animal Products • Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 72 (06) • Nov-Dec 2020 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-11691 copy

On-farm welfare assessment in dairy goats in the Brazilian Northeast

[Avaliação do bem-estar de cabras leiteiras em fazendas no nordeste brasileiro]

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to apply a modified AWIN Goat protocol to evaluate and compare the welfare of adult lactating and non-lactating dairy goats at pen and individual levels on small farms located in Ceará, Northeast, Brazil, and to take into consideration the application of this protocol on Brazilian Northeast goat farms. Five farms with Lactating goats (L) and five farms with non-lactating goats (NL) were evaluated. At the first level of welfare assessment, animals were evaluated in the pen and during the second level of welfare assessment, animals were evaluated in the pen and individually. Indicators assessed were animal and resource-based indicators. Significant difference between L and NL on farms was set at P<0.05. Only queuing at feeding indicator showed significant difference (P=0.027) between groups in pens at the first level welfare assessment. On individual assessments, there was significant difference between L and NL regarding body condition score (P=0.003), overgrown claws (P=0.001) and udder asymmetry (P=0.001). The application of a modified AWIN Goat protocol on farms in Ceará was considered positive. In general, these results demonstrated that both groups are submitted to welfare problems in Ceará, although lactating goats present more challenges to cope.

Keywords:
goat welfare; animal production; AWIN protocol; animal-based indicator; resource-based indicator

Farms	Goat status	Total goats/ farm	Number of adult goats on farm	Number of goats sub-groups	Number of evaluated goats (1º welfare level - pen )	Number of evaluated goats (2º welfare level - pen)	Number of evaluated goats (2º welfare level - individual animal)	Goat breed
Farm 1	Lactating	30	6	1	6	0	6	Saanen
4
Farm 2	Lactating	50	20	4	4	3	16	Saanen/British alpine

Farm 3	Lactating	30	9	1	9	0	9	Saanen/Alpine/Mixed breed of Saanen and Alpine

Farm 4	Lactating	18	18	1	18	0	18	Saanen
Farm 5	Lactating	56	22	5	8	8	21	Saanen
Farm 1	Non- Lactating	5	5	3	2	2	5	Saanen
Farm 2	Non- Lactating	6	6	2	3	3	6	Murciana/Canindé

Farm 3	Non- Lactating	20	8	2	5	3	8	Saanen/Alpine/Mixed breed of Saanen and Alpine

Farm 4	Non- Lactating	9	6	1	6	0	6	Mixed breed of Saanen and Alpine

Farm 5	Non- Lactating	56	34	5	14	0	23	Saanen

Indicator	Description
Improper disbudding	The number of goats showing presence of residual horns (scurs) is recorded.
Abscess	The presence of external abscesses in front area is recorded.
Kneeling at the feed rack	The number of kneeling goats (front legs flexed, the rear up compared to other goats) is counted during feeding time.
Queuing at feeding	The number of goats queuing at the feed rack, during feeding time, is counted using a scan sampling method until 15minutes.
Queuing at drinking	The number of goats queuing at the drinkers, during or after feeding time, is counted using a scan sampling method until 15minutes.
Hair coat condition	The number of goats presenting poor hair coat (defined as matted, rough, scurfy, uneven, shaggy hair coat frequently longer than normal) is recorded.
Oblivion	The number of oblivious goats (physically or mentally isolated from the group) is recorded.
Thermal stress	Number of goats showing heat (high accelerate respiration rate) or cold (shivering or presence of bristly hair) stress signs is counted.
Latency to the first contact test (LFCT)	The latency from the time the first goat nuzzles or touches any part of the assessor’s body that was immobile in a selected place in the pen is recorded (maximum time: 300 seconds).
Severe Lameness	Goats are moved in the pen and the number of severely lame animals (based on abnormal gait, head nodding, spine curvature, and presence of kneeling in different places than the feeding rack) is counted.

Indicator	Description
^a Stocking density	The individual space (m) of each goat was calculated based on the total area (m²) of the pen and divided by the number of goats.
^b Number of feeding spaces	The number of feeding spaces is recorded.
^b The length (m) of feeding trough(s) per goat	The individual length of feeding trough(s) that each goat has to feed is recorded.
^b Number of functioning water places	Number of functioning water places is recorded.
^b Presence of linear trough(s) (m)	The presence of linear trough(s) (m) is recorded.
^b Total length (m) of linear water trough(s) per goat	The individual length of linear water trough(s) that each goat has to drink is recorded.
^b Presence of horned and dehorned goats	The Presence of horned and dehorned goats at the same pen is recorded.
^b Flooring material	The type of flooring material on each pen is recorded.
^b Bedding material	The type of bedding material on each pen is recorded.

Indicator	Description
Body scoring condition (BCS)	BCS is assessed on individual goats, using a three-level visual scoring method.
Abscess	The presence of external abscesses in front and rear area is recorded.
Fecal soiling	The presence of soft and liquid manure below the tail head is visually assessed as a sign of diarrhea.
Nasal discharge	The presence of any mucus or purulent discharge from the nose is visually assessed.
Ocular discharge	The presence of clearly visible flow from one or two eyes is visually assessed.
Overgrown claws	The presence of rear claws that are deformed and/or with excess horn tissue is visually assessed.
Udder asymmetry	The presence of asymmetric udders (in which one half is at least 25% longer than the other, excluding the teats) is visually assessed.

Ambient variables	L and NL farms
Ambient variables	Morning	min-Max	Afternoon	min-Max
Temperature (°C)	30,92^a	28,48 - 36,62	33,59^a	27,67 - 39,64
Relative humidity (%)	62,90^a	33,95 - 78,28	46,73^a	33,23 - 67,36

Animal-based indicators	Number (%)		Number (%)		p-valor
Animal-based indicators	Goats	Farms with L	Goats	Farms with NL
First level welfare assessment (Pen 1)
Improper disbudding	1 (1.78)	1 (20)	3 (7.89)	2 (40)	1.000
Abscess	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	-
Kneeling at the feed rack	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	-
Hair coat condition	12 (21.42)	4 (80)	3 (7.89)	1 (20)	0.286
Oblivion	1 (1.78)	1 (20)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	1.000
Thermal stress	3 (5.35)	2 (40)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0.444
Severe Lameness	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	-
	Second level welfare assessment (Pen 2)
Improper disbudding	1 (9.09)	1 (50)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0.400
Kneeling at the feed rack	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	-
Hair coat condition	4 (36.36)	2 (100)	3 (37.5)	1 (33.33)	0.600
Oblivion	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	-
Thermal stress	1 (9.09)	1 (50)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0.400
Severe Lameness	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	-

Farm Goat status	Stocking density	Number of feeding spaces	The length (m) of feeding trough(s) per goats	Number of functioning water places	Total length (m) of linear water trough(s) per goat	Presence of horned and dehorned goats (Yes/No)
	First level welfare assessment (Pen 1)
Farm 1 L	2.27	1	1.07	1	Na	Yes
Farm 2 L	2.56	1	0.42	1	Na	No
Farm 3 L	7.15	2	0.41	1	Na	No
Farm 4 L	4.19	2	0.74	2	Na	No
Farm 5 L	1.57	2	0.55	1	0.12	No
Farm 1 NL	7.47	1	0.55	1	Na	Yes
Farm 2 NL	1.22	1	0.11	1	Na	Yes
Farm 3 NL	2.47	1	0.37	1	Na	No
Farm 4 NL	-	1	0.61	2	Na	No
Farm 5 NL	0.93	2	0.29	1	0.12	Yes
	Second level welfare assessment (Pen 2)
Farm 2 L	2.18	1	0.57	1	Na	No
Farm 5 L	1.57	2	0.55	1	0.12	Yes
Farm 1 NL	14.24	1	0.55	1	Na	No
Farm 2 NL	3.9	2	0.32	1	Na	Yes
Farm 3 NL	3.2	1	0.37	1	Na	No

Farm Goat status	Flooring Material	Bedding material	Quantity of bedding (Insufficient/Sufficient/ No bedding)	Cleanness of bedding (Dirty/ Clean/No bedding)
First level welfare assessment (Pen 1)
Farm 1 L	Concrete	Straw	Insufficient	Dirty
Farm 2 L	Concrete	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 3 L	Sand	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 4 L	Wood slatted floor	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 5 L	Wood slatted floor	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 1 NL	Bare soil	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 2 NL	Concrete	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 3 NL	Bare soil/concrete	Sand	Insufficient	Dirty
Farm 4 NL	Bare soil	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 5 NL	Wood slatted floor	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Second level welfare assessment (Pen 2)
Farm 2 L	Concrete	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 5 L	Wood slatted floor	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 1 NL	Bare soil	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 2 NL	Concrete	No bedding	No bedding	No bedding
Farm 3 NL	Bare soil	Sand	Insufficient	Clean

L and NL on farms	Mean (min-max)
First level welfare assessment (Pen 1)
L on farms	203.6 (91-300)
NL on farms	95.6 (14-300)
Second level welfare assessment (Pen 2)
L on farms	99 (46-152)
NL on farms	215 (45-300)

Animal-based indicators	Number (%)		Number (%)		p-valor
Animal-based indicators	L	Farms	NL	Farms	p-valor
Fecal soiling	0 (0.00)	0 (00.0)	0 (0.00)	0 (00.0)	-
Overgrown claws	17 (24.3)	4 (80)	1 (2.1)	1 (20)	0.001*
Abscess	1 (1.4)	1 (20)	0 (0.00)	0 (00.0)	1.000
Udder asymmetry	12 (17.1)	6 (60.0)	0 (0.00)	0 (00.0)	0.001*
Ocular discharge	7 (10)	2 (40.0)	3 (6.3)	2 (40)	0.738
Nasal discharge	2 (2.9)	2 (40.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.00)	0.513

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